what am I doing wrong?

Tishrei

I'm having a really hard time getting rid of the last couple of pounds. I'm 40 yo (female), 5'5. I started here 90 days ago at 130 lb, my goal is 122 lb. right now I'm hovering around 123-125, and have been for over a month.
I didnt lose weight at first but then had a few weeks of eating below 1200 (I just wasnt all that hungry at the end of the day even though I had extra cal's so I didnt eat them all) and that's when I dropped the weight.
now, if I eat at 1200, I gain. if I eat under (say around 1000) I drop a half pound in a week. its that same pound going up when I eat and down when I don't.
also, I noticed that when I run, I gain a bit. when I don't, I don't.
I'm going to open my diary so anyone who is so inclined can take a peek and hopefully advise me.

I've toyed with the idea of lifting some, but I'm nervous. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in both shoulders, hips and knees. my joints and tendons can get cranky sometimes and I have to respect that or I flare up in pain for weeks. is there any value to intermittent (or inconsistent) lifting?

candylilacs

I think your body is telling you where it wants to be. Getting rid of any poundage at this point is going to be *murder*. I've never been in this situation, but I have heard from many others that the last five pounds (and you only have 1-2!) can be a gargantuan task to keep off.

Is there some reason why 123 or 125 isn't a good number for you? And, by the way, I think you should eat a little more.

phxfire1952

Hello,
I've just taken a look at your diary. You need way more protein. Lack of protein in the diet can cause a serious weight stall. Also, try to keep your sugar consumption to less than 11 grams (at least for a week). It's not about calories now, it's about the balance of protein and carbs. Weight gain during exercise can be normal...when your muscles repair themselves they can hold excess H2O. Try burst training...run hard for a minute and then back off to a light jog..do this for 15 minutes and you will see some great results. I agree with the other replier...eat more Good Luck.

J

maybeazure

Probably you aren't doing anything wrong. You are at a very healthy weight. Maybe stop worrying about the scale and start strength training? You might gain a little, but you'll probably look better, and nobody but you needs to know what you weigh anyway.

chani8

Calculate your BMR and eat what it shows, no more, no less. But one day a week (or two), cheat like crazy. Eat most of your exercise calories. Log in your food carefully, making sure to measure food carefully and don't cheat yourself.

You are logging calcium not carbs. Did you mean to do that? Keep carbs just under 100g day if you can, not counting fiber carbs. That means, try to eat more veggies if you can. More greens means more calcium, fiber, and protein.

Weight training will change your life! Five to 15 minutes a day is all it takes (no more than 20min!). One day do chest, the next day arms, the next legs, the next shoulders and back, and everyday do a short abs workout. Wait exactly 60 seconds (a must!) between sets/supersets, and as long as you don't workout for too long (a must!!), I think it will keep inflamation down.

herblackwings39

I'm having a really hard time getting rid of the last couple of pounds. I'm 40 yo (female), 5'5. I started here 90 days ago at 130 lb, my goal is 122 lb. right now I'm hovering around 123-125, and have been for over a month.
I didnt lose weight at first but then had a few weeks of eating below 1200 (I just wasnt all that hungry at the end of the day even though I had extra cal's so I didnt eat them all) and that's when I dropped the weight.
now, if I eat at 1200, I gain. if I eat under (say around 1000) I drop a half pound in a week. its that same pound going up when I eat and down when I don't.
also, I noticed that when I run, I gain a bit. when I don't, I don't.
I'm going to open my diary so anyone who is so inclined can take a peek and hopefully advise me.

I've toyed with the idea of lifting some, but I'm nervous. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in both shoulders, hips and knees. my joints and tendons can get cranky sometimes and I have to respect that or I flare up in pain for weeks. is there any value to intermittent (or inconsistent) lifting?

Would it be possible for you to talk to your doctor about recommending someone in physical therapy who might advise you on a lifting plan? With fibromyalgia and arthritis it might be helpful to get a professional opinion on how to start and progress.

TavistockToad

i am 5ft5, 130something pounds and i am losing bodyfat on NET 1800 cals, so i just cant see how you 'gain' on 1200 cals...?

shutupandlift13

I'm having a really hard time getting rid of the last couple of pounds. I'm 40 yo (female), 5'5. I started here 90 days ago at 130 lb, my goal is 122 lb. right now I'm hovering around 123-125, and have been for over a month.
I didnt lose weight at first but then had a few weeks of eating below 1200 (I just wasnt all that hungry at the end of the day even though I had extra cal's so I didnt eat them all) and that's when I dropped the weight.
now, if I eat at 1200, I gain. if I eat under (say around 1000) I drop a half pound in a week. its that same pound going up when I eat and down when I don't.
also, I noticed that when I run, I gain a bit. when I don't, I don't.
I'm going to open my diary so anyone who is so inclined can take a peek and hopefully advise me.

I've toyed with the idea of lifting some, but I'm nervous. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in both shoulders, hips and knees. my joints and tendons can get cranky sometimes and I have to respect that or I flare up in pain for weeks. is there any value to intermittent (or inconsistent) lifting?

OP what's magic about 122lbs? If you don't like the way things look at 123-125 nothing is going to be different at 122. If you're unhappy with your body composition you need to eat at maintenance or a small deficit from that, get adequate protein and start some form of resistance training. You want to work on a recomposition or a very slow cut, dieting down with 1200 cals a day is going to only further your loss of lean body mass. Unless you want to be skinny but still squishy, I highly recommend eating more and talking with a personal trainer about ways to get you lifting with your giving conditions.

Tishrei

I think your body is telling you where it wants to be. Getting rid of any poundage at this point is going to be *murder*. I've never been in this situation, but I have heard from many others that the last five pounds (and you only have 1-2!) can be a gargantuan task to keep off.

Is there some reason why 123 or 125 isn't a good number for you? And, by the way, I think you should eat a little more.

my main goal is to fit into my clothes. clothes fit best at 122, I'm ok at 124-5. honestly, if I knew I could maintain this I'd be ok, but I keep going up even at 1200 cals. I'm afraid to think of eating more.

Tishrei

Hello,
I've just taken a look at your diary. You need way more protein. Lack of protein in the diet can cause a serious weight stall. Also, try to keep your sugar consumption to less than 11 grams (at least for a week). It's not about calories now, it's about the balance of protein and carbs. Weight gain during exercise can be normal...when your muscles repair themselves they can hold excess H2O. Try burst training...run hard for a minute and then back off to a light jog..do this for 15 minutes and you will see some great results. I agree with the other replier...eat more Good Luck.

J

true, I dont get enough protein. I dont feel great when I eat too much animal based proteins and beans are so caloric I've all but given them up. I'll have to find some more protein sources.
but I thought it all came down to 'calories in, calories out', why does low protein stall weight loss?

and I will try the burst training. thank you.

Tishrei

Calculate your BMR and eat what it shows, no more, no less. But one day a week (or two), cheat like crazy. Eat most of your exercise calories. Log in your food carefully, making sure to measure food carefully and don't cheat yourself.

You are logging calcium not carbs. Did you mean to do that? Keep carbs just under 100g day if you can, not counting fiber carbs. That means, try to eat more veggies if you can. More greens means more calcium, fiber, and protein.

Weight training will change your life! Five to 15 minutes a day is all it takes (no more than 20min!). One day do chest, the next day arms, the next legs, the next shoulders and back, and everyday do a short abs workout. Wait exactly 60 seconds (a must!) between sets/supersets, and as long as you don't workout for too long (a must!!), I think it will keep inflamation down.

I thought I had carbs in there...will have a look. I did want to track calcium, if I dont count I tend to take in way too little.

I think you are right about weight training, I'm just so afraid to set off my joints. I guess I can start with light weights and see how it goes.
thank you.

Tishrei

i am 5ft5, 130something pounds and i am losing bodyfat on NET 1800 cals, so i just cant see how you 'gain' on 1200 cals...?

show off ; )

you are probably younger or more active than I am.

Tishrei

I'm having a really hard time getting rid of the last couple of pounds. I'm 40 yo (female), 5'5. I started here 90 days ago at 130 lb, my goal is 122 lb. right now I'm hovering around 123-125, and have been for over a month.
I didnt lose weight at first but then had a few weeks of eating below 1200 (I just wasnt all that hungry at the end of the day even though I had extra cal's so I didnt eat them all) and that's when I dropped the weight.
now, if I eat at 1200, I gain. if I eat under (say around 1000) I drop a half pound in a week. its that same pound going up when I eat and down when I don't.
also, I noticed that when I run, I gain a bit. when I don't, I don't.
I'm going to open my diary so anyone who is so inclined can take a peek and hopefully advise me.

I've toyed with the idea of lifting some, but I'm nervous. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in both shoulders, hips and knees. my joints and tendons can get cranky sometimes and I have to respect that or I flare up in pain for weeks. is there any value to intermittent (or inconsistent) lifting?

OP what's magic about 122lbs? If you don't like the way things look at 123-125 nothing is going to be different at 122. If you're unhappy with your body composition you need to eat at maintenance or a small deficit from that, get adequate protein and start some form of resistance training. You want to work on a recomposition or a very slow cut, dieting down with 1200 cals a day is going to only further your loss of lean body mass. Unless you want to be skinny but still squishy, I highly recommend eating more and talking with a personal trainer about ways to get you lifting with your giving conditions.

122 is magic, I'm telling you. at 122 my calves fit into my boots and my hips match my small top. I'd be ok with 123-5 though, if I knew I could maintain it.

you (and everyone else) are probably right about me needing to start lifting. I've got a bazillion reasons why I can't and why I can't meet with a personal trainer (time, money) but those sound like excuses, huh.

might really be time to get my lazy bum lifting.

I_Will_End_You

Unless there is something medically wrong with you, you should not gain weight going over 1200 calories. You're either over estimating your calorie burn, under estimating your intake, or you've slowed your metabolism with these low calorie diets. Try adding a little at a time, 100 calories extra a day for a week, then another 100 the next week, and so on.

RM10003

Can you tolerate Greek yogurt? I find it's a great way of keeping up both my protein and my calcium.

And are you sure you're logging accurately? You had a recent dinner that consisted solely of 0.1 serving of penne a la vodka for 34 calories. It's possible that you really had just one bite and then stopped eating the pasta, but was that your whole dinner?

ndj1979

Hello,
I've just taken a look at your diary. You need way more protein. Lack of protein in the diet can cause a serious weight stall. Also, try to keep your sugar consumption to less than 11 grams (at least for a week). It's not about calories now, it's about the balance of protein and carbs. Weight gain during exercise can be normal...when your muscles repair themselves they can hold excess H2O. Try burst training...run hard for a minute and then back off to a light jog..do this for 15 minutes and you will see some great results. I agree with the other replier...eat more Good Luck.

J

why less than 11 grams of sugar????

Tishrei

Can you tolerate Greek yogurt? I find it's a great way of keeping up both my protein and my calcium.

And are you sure you're logging accurately? You had a recent dinner that consisted solely of 0.1 serving of penne a la vodka for 34 calories. It's possible that you really had just one bite and then stopped eating the pasta, but was that your whole dinner?

I cant stand yogurt. havent tried the greek yogurt though, is it less tangy than regular?

and yesterday was a bad day, I ate lunch really late, snacked on nuts and stupid crackers and then yes, had only a bite of the penne.

Tishrei

Unless there is something medically wrong with you, you should not gain weight going over 1200 calories. You're either over estimating your calorie burn, under estimating your intake, or you've slowed your metabolism with these low calorie diets. Try adding a little at a time, 100 calories extra a day for a week, then another 100 the next week, and so on.

could be over estimating my calorie burn, but my treadmill consistently tells me I burned more than MFP. I go with the MFP number. I should get a HR monitor. I never burn much anyway, only have 30 min to exercise, max.
could be underestimating my intake, I am not weighing (I do count/measure). but I usually dont eat back all exercise cal's or end my day a bit under 1200 to make up for that. I'm not having three cookies that I'm not logging though. I log everything - even one bite of penne!
I think maybe my metabolism is just really slow, not sure if its because I'm eating a bit lower than 1200 or if its always been that way. but that sounds so 'I have big bones' to me.
if I add 100 cals and gain, then what? keep adding? drop back down? I'd be thrilled to learn that I could eat more and lose, but it sounds too good to be true..

Ang108

From looking at your diary I feel you need to replace at least some of the pizza, french fries, bread, graham crackers, cookies and other refined flour with more protein. This does not have to be all meat/fowl and fish but could also be rice & beans, yogurt and other food that makes complete protein. You also might try and eat 1400 calories.
I am not screaming that 1200 calories is never enough, because that is exactly how much I eat, but since I am only five feet tall and you are much taller and decades younger than I, I feel you need to eat a bit more.
You probably will gain a bit in the first weeks, but with luck you will start losing again. Either way I think you need to shake things up a bit.
Good luck !

BTW. These are the values of a " Penne with Vodka " recipe adapted from the Sparkpeople. As you can see it's 871 calories and not 34. It uses 1.5 cups of pasta.

Calories 871.0

Total Fat 41.8 g
Saturated Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 75.0 mg
Sodium 1,044.0 mg
Potassium 0.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 97.2 g
Dietary Fiber 0.0 g
Sugars 0.0 g
Protein 24.0 g

Tishrei

yes, the pizza and fries should go.

the penne al a vodka was homemade, I entered in my recipe and counted out servings. I get 341 per serving. I did eyeball the 0.1 but it was literally one forkful.